SALISBURY, N.C. – Catawba College Athletics inducted eight new members into the school's Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Saturday, November 8, in Keppel Auditorium.
The 2025 inductees were
Allison Dupree Adams '00 (women's cross country),
Craig Brooks '15 (baseball),
Ron Ellington '08 (football),
Dana Hicks '12 (women's basketball),
Brian Ray '94 (football),
Brad Roach '08 (football),
Jose Velazquez '07 (men's tennis) and
Mick Wakeman '92 (men's soccer).
There are now 232 members in the Catawba Sports Hall of Fame, dating back to the inaugural ceremony in 1977. Voting is conducted by members of the Catawba Sports Hall of Fame committee.
Fans can rewatch the 2025 Catawba Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on YouTube here:
https://youtube.com/live/DtdKh0C9IbU
2025 Catawba Sports Hall of Fame Photo Gallery:
https://catawbaathletics.com/galleries/general/2025-catawba-sports-hall-of-fa/24
To check out the Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame and previous inductees, visit:
https://www.catawba.edu/hof
2025 Catawba Sports Hall of Fame Program:
https://catawbaathletics.com/documents/2025/11/14/CatawbaSportsHOFProgram2025.pdf
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2025 Catawba Sports Hall of Fame Bios
Allison Dupree Adams '00, Women's Cross Country
A pioneer in Catawba Cross Country program history, Allison Dupree was the first runner in Catawba women's or men's history to earn SAC Runner of the Year honors, taking the conference title in 1997 and leading the Catawba Indians to a second-place finish as a team under head coach Jeff Childress. She stood as the lone Catawba woman to win the individual crown at the conference meet for 25 years.
Dupree was a three-time All-SAC selection, earning first team honors in 1997. She captured individual wins at the Belmont Abbey Invitational in 1996 and the Gardner-Webb Invitational in 1998, leading the Catawba Indians to the team title in both races. Dupree also competed in the first two seasons of competition for the women's golf program under head coach Sam Gealy. She competed in 11 rounds across six tournaments for the Catawba Indians.
Allison Dupree Adams Accolades:
- Women's Cross Country, 1996-99
- Named the 1997 SAC Runner of the Year after winning the conference title at that year's championships on Oct. 25, leading the Catawba Indians to a second-place finish as a team
- First runner in Catawba women's or men's cross country history to earn SAC Runner of the Year honors
- Stood as the lone Catawba woman to win the individual crown at the SAC conference meet for 25 years
- Named to the All-SAC First Team in 1997
- Earned All-SAC Second Team honors in 1996 and 1998
- Won the individual title at the Belmont Abbey Invitational on Oct. 10, 1996, leading the Catawba Indians to the team title
- Claimed the individual victory at the Gardner-Webb Invitational on Oct. 10, 1998, guiding the team to a first-place finish
- Also competed in the first two seasons for the Catawba women's golf program. Competed in 11 rounds across six tournaments for the Catawba Indians
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Craig Brooks '15, Baseball
One of the all-time greats in Catawba Baseball history, Craig Brooks was named the 2015 NCAA Division II ABCA/Rawlings Gold Bat Award winner, given to the National Player of the Year. He was also named the National Pitcher of the Year by the same organization. Brooks was the 2015 Brett Tomko Award winner, presented by D2 Baseball News, which is given to college baseball's most outstanding pitcher as well as the 2015 Josh Willingham Award winner, presented to DII college baseball's Most Valuable Player.
Brooks was also named the 2014-15 South Atlantic Conference Male Athlete of the Year. He struck out a nation-best 158 hitters during the 2015 season and ranked No. 1 in the country with 14.36 strikeouts per nine innings. He also batted .300 with 15 doubles and six home runs in 2015.
A six-time All-American in 2014 and 2015, including being named a unanimous First Team All-American in 2015, Brooks was a two-time Region Pitcher of the Year and two-time First Team All-Region selection, two-time SAC Pitcher of the Year, three-time All-SAC First Team selection, 2015 All-SAC Gold Glove winner and the 2014 SAC Tournament MVP.
A three-time SAC regular season champion, 2014 SAC Tournament champion, three-time NCAA Regional participant and two-time Region champion and College World Series participant, Brooks led the Catawba Indians to a national runner-up finish as a senior at the 2015 NCAA Division II College World Series under head coach and Catawba Sports Hall of Famer
Jim Gantt.
Brooks ranks 1st in school history in single-season strikeouts and ranks 2nd in program history with wins in a single season. He holds the third-lowest career ERA in school history and ranks fourth in career strikeouts, tied for 15th in victories and tied for ninth in career saves. After graduating in 2015, Brooks was drafted in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs with the 203rd overall pick.
Craig Brooks Accolades:
- Baseball, 2012-15
- 2015 NCAA Division II ABCA/Rawlings Gold Bat Award winner, given to the National Player of the Year
- 2015 NCAA Division II ABCA/Rawlings National Pitcher of the Year
- 2015 Brett Tomko Award winner, presented by D2 Baseball News, which is given to college baseball's most outstanding pitcher
- 2015 Josh Willingham Award winner, presented to DII college baseball's Most Valuable Player
- 2014-15 SAC Male Athlete of the Year
- 9-1 record with a 1.45 ERA, 158 strikeouts and 99 innings pitched in 2015
- Struck out a nation-best 158 hitters during the 2015 season and ranked No. 1 in the country with 14.36 strikeouts per nine innings. Also batted .300 with 15 doubles and six home runs in 2015
- Six-time All-American in 2014 and 2015, including being named a unanimous First Team All-American in 2015
- Two-time Region Pitcher of the Year and two-time First Team All-Region selection (2014, 2015)
- Two-time SAC Pitcher of the Year (2014, 2015), three-time All-SAC First Team selection (2014 - pitcher and shortstop, 2015 - pitcher), 2015 All-SAC Gold Glove winner and 2014 SAC Tournament MVP
- Named to the 2015 All-DII National Finals All-Tournament Team
- Ranks 1st in school history in single-season strikeouts with 158 in 2015
- Ranks 2nd in program history with wins in a single season, picking up 12 victories in 2014
- Holds the third-lowest career ERA in school history (1.94)
- Ranks fourth in career strikeouts with 290
- Tied for 15th in team history with 23 career victories and tied for ninth with 12 career saves
- Three-time SAC regular season champion (2013, 2014, 2015), 2014 SAC Tournament champion, three-time NCAA Regional participant (2012, 2014, 2015) and two-time Region champion and College World Series participant (2012, 2015)
- Led the Catawba Indians to the 2015 National Finals of the NCAA Division II College World Series, where the team finished the season as the second ranked team, the highest finish in school history
- Tossed Catawba's most-recent no-hitter vs. Brevard on Feb. 23, 2015
- One of six Catawba players in team history to hit for the cycle
- Drafted in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs with the 203rd overall pick
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Ron Ellington '08, Football
One of the most dynamic pass rushers in Catawba football history, Ron Ellington racked up 26 career sacks to rank fourth in program history. The 2006 SAC Defensive Player of the Year, Ellington helped lead the Catawba Indians to the 2007 SAC title and to two NCAA Playoffs appearances in 2004 and 2007.
Ellington was a two-time All-American during his junior and senior seasons at Catawba, earning AFCA First Team honors in 2006 and unanimous All-American honors in 2007. A three-time All-Region selection, two-time First Team All-Region pick and three-time All-SAC First Team selection, Ellington's 26 career sacks rank tied for 13th in SAC history. His 10 sacks in 2005 rank tied for 8th in single-season sack totals. As a sophomore in 2005, Ellington set the Catawba single-game record with a dominant seven-sack performance in a 31-0 shutout of Mars Hill.
Ron Ellington Accolades:
- Football, 2004-07
- Earned unanimous All-American honors in 2007, including being named AP Third Team All-American
- 2006 AFCA First Team All-American and AP Third Team All-American
- Three-time All-Region selection (2005, 2006, 2007)
- First Team All-Region pick in 2005 and 2007
- 2006 SAC Defensive Player of the Year
- Three-time All-SAC First Team selection (2005, 2006, 2007)
- Ranks 4th in program history with 26 career sacks
- His 26 career sacks rank tied for 13th in SAC history
- Holds the school record for sacks in a game with seven against Mars Hill on Oct. 1, 2005
- His 10 sacks in 2005 rank tied for 8th in single-season sack totals
- Helped lead Catawba to the 2007 SAC Championship
- Helped lead Catawba to two NCAA Playoffs appearances (2004, 2007)
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Dana Hicks '12, Women's Basketball
The all-time career and single-season double-doubles leader in Catawba Women's Basketball history, Dana Hicks is the only Catawba women's basketball player in history to record 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. An All-SAC Freshman Team season was followed by three All-SAC First Team selections, culminating in being named the 2012 SAC Player of the Year as a senior.
A 2012 Third-Team All-American and three-time All-Region selection, Hicks leads the program in career free throws made and attempted, while ranking second in program history in rebounds and seventh on the all-time scoring list with 1,521 career points. Her 1,115 career rebounds rank 4th in SAC history. Hicks ranks 10th in career field goals made, 12th in field goals attempted, 12th in career field goal percentage and 12th in career free throw percentage. She holds three of the top 10 single-season rebounding totals and shares the school record for highest field goal percentage in a game, going a perfect 9-for-9 from the field vs. Livingstone on Nov. 25, 2009. Hicks helped lead the Catawba Indians to a 19-win season during the 2011-12 campaign, capped by the team's first trip to the NCAA Tournament in eight seasons.
Dana Hicks Accolades:
- Women's Basketball, 2008-12
- 2012 D2 Bulletin Third Team All-American and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American
- Three-time Second Team All-Region selection (2010, 2011, 2012)
- 2012 SAC Player of the Year
- Three-time All-SAC First Team selection (2010, 2011, 2012)
- 2009 SAC All-Freshman Team
- 2012 SAC All-Tournament Team
- Ranks 7th in program history in scoring with 1,521 career points
- Ranks 2nd in team history with 1,115 career rebounds
- Her 1,115 career rebounds rank 4th in SAC history
- Her 11.90 rebounds per game average during the 2011-12 season is the 10th-highest in SAC history
- Program leader in career free throws made (431) and attempted (588)
- Program leader in double-doubles for a career (56) and single-season (21)
- Ranks 10th in career field goals made (545), 12th in field goals attempted (1,155) and 12th in career field goal percentage (.455)
- Ranks 12th in career free throw percentage (.733)
- Holds three of the top 10 single-season rebounding totals
- Shares the school record for highest field goal percentage in a game (1.000), going 9-for-9 from the field vs. Livingstone on Nov. 25, 2009
- Led Catawba to a 2012 NCAA Regional appearance
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Brian Ray '94, Football
The first offensive lineman to earn All-American status in Catawba Football history, Brian Ray earned three All-South Atlantic Conference selections in the early 1990s under head coach JD Haglan. A two-time All-SAC First Team selection, Ray's career at Catawba culminated with an NAIA All-America Honorable Mention selection during his senior season in 1993.
Ray anchored the Catawba offensive line that established the school's single-season rushing record with 2,931 yards in 1993. Ray blocked for five players who went on to achieve over 1,000 career rushing yards. He served as a key blocker for two of the top seven single-season rushing performances in school history, including a 1,000-yard rusher in 1993. He also blocked for a quarterback who surpassed 4,000 career passing yards.
Ray was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1993 after his senior campaign and earned the team's Leadership Award in 1992 as a junior.
Brian Ray Accolades:
- Football, 1990-93
- 1992 NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors
- Three-time All-SAC selection (1991, 1992, 1993)
- Named All-SAC First Team in 1992 and 1993
- Earned All-SAC Second Team honors in 1991
- Named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1993
- Earned the team's Leadership Award in 1992
- Led the Catawba offensive line that established the school's single-season rushing record with 2,931 yards in 1993
- Blocked for five players who went on to achieve over 1,000 career rushing yards
- Served as a key blocker for two of the top seven single-season rushing performances in school history, including a 1,000-yard rusher in 1993
- Blocked for a quarterback who surpassed 4,000 career passing yards
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Brad Roach '08, Football
The leader of the top offense in Catawba Football history, Brad Roach finished his stellar career with the Catawba Indians by orchestrating an offense that broke program records in points scored, scoring average and total yards. The 2007 SAC Offensive Player of the Year broke the single-season passing record by over 500 yards and passed for 32 touchdowns, 11 more touchdown passes than the program record at the time.
Under head coach Chip Hester, Roach led Catawba to the 2007 SAC title and the 2007 NCAA Playoffs. The team's 11 wins included four wins over nationally ranked opponents in the first six weeks of the season, highlighted by a 55-49 road win over seventh-ranked Carson-Newman. Roach, an AFCA First Team All-American in 2007, signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens, while also spending time with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Roach ranks 1st in program history in career average passing yards per game, single-season passing yards, single-season touchdown passes, single-season total offense, single-season average passing yards per game, single-season point responsibility, single-season passing attempts and single-game total offense.
Roach ranks 2nd in school history in career passing yards, career total offense, career passing touchdowns, career completions, career attempts, single-season completions and passing yards in a game. He also ranks 4th in career completion percentage and passer rating, and holds three of the top 11 passing seasons in school history.
In South Atlantic Conference history, he ranks 6th in single-season touchdown passes, 10th in single-season passing yards, 11th in career completions, 12th in career passing yards, 13th in career passing attempts, 13th in career passing touchdowns and 13th in single-game passing yards.
Brad Roach Accolades:
- Football, 2004-07
- Two-time All-American in 2007, including AFCA First Team honors
- 2007 SAC Offensive Player of the Year
- 2007 All-SAC First Team selection
- 2007 Third Team All-Region selection
- Ranks 1st in program history in career average passing yards per game (212.81), single-season passing yards (3,322), single-season touchdown passes (32), single-season total offense (3,413), single-season average passing yards per game (255.54), single-season point responsibility (218 points), single-season passing attempts (384) and single-game total offense (486 yards)
- Ranks 2nd in school history in career passing yards (7,874), career total offense (8,012), career passing touchdowns (62), career completions (608), career attempts (1,099), single-season completions (224) and passing yards in a game (486)
- Ranks 4th in career completion percentage (55.32%) and passer rating (125.21)
- Holds three of the top 11 passing seasons in school history
- In SAC history, he ranks 6th in single-season touchdown passes (32), 10th in single-season passing yards (3,322), 11th in career completions (608), 12th in career passing yards (7,874), 13th in career passing attempts (1,099), 13th in career passing touchdowns (62) and 13th in single-game passing yards (486)
- Led Catawba to the 2007 SAC Championship
- Led Catawba to the 2007 NCAA Playoffs
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Jose Velazquez '07, Men's Tennis
One of the most decorated players in Catawba Tennis history, Jose Velazquez was a full-time player for each of his four seasons, with the final three under head coach Jeff Childress. Velazquez was an All-SAC performer in each of his four seasons and a First Team All-SAC selection in each of his final three years. He was named the 2007 SAC Player of the Year following his senior season.
The Catawba Indians won at least 16 matches in each of his final three seasons, which culminated in an NCAA Regional berth in his senior campaign. His 98 career doubles matches played are most in program history. His 91 career matches played in singles ranks 2nd all-time. All 65 of his career singles victories came from the top-ranked position, more than double the number of top-ranked singles wins over the next-most in program history. Velazquez ranks 2nd in program history for overall career singles wins.
He also ranks tied for 5th all-time in career singles winning percentage and ranks 13th in program history for career doubles wins. His 20 singles victories in 2007 are the fifth-most in school history, while his .833 winning percentage in 2007 ranks as the 11th-best in program history. As a senior, Velazquez was named the 2007 Kirkland Award winner, given to Catawba's Male Athlete of the Year.
Jose Velazquez Accolades:
- Men's Tennis, 2004-07
- 2007 SAC Player of the Year
- Four-time All-SAC selection (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
- Three-time All-SAC First Team selection (2005, 2006, 2007)
- 2005 SAC All-Tournament Team
- Named the 2007 Kirkland Award winner, given to Catawba's Male Athlete of the Year
- Program leader in career matches played in doubles (98)
- Ranks 2nd in career matches played in singles (91)
- Holds the program record for career singles wins at the #1 position (65)
- Ranks 2nd in program history for overall career singles wins (65)
- Ranks tied for 5th all-time in career singles winning percentage (.714)
- Ranks 13th in program history for career doubles wins (51)
- His 20 singles victories in 2007 are the fifth-most in school history
- His .833 winning percentage in 2007 ranks as the 11th-best in program history
- Led Catawba to a 2007 NCAA Regional appearance
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Mick Wakeman '92, Men's Soccer
Among the leaders of the winningest two-year stretch in Men's Soccer history, Mick Wakeman led the Catawba Indians in assists in both his junior and senior seasons. His 25 assists across the 1990 and '91 seasons helped lead Catawba to a combined 41 wins, which included a perfect 14-0 mark in SAC play with two SAC regular season titles and the 1990 SAC Tournament title under head coach Peter Broadley. The 1990 team holds the school record with 21 wins in a single season, followed closely by the 1991 team with 20 wins - the second-highest total in school history.
A four-time All-American, Wakeman's play helped him earn back-to-back First Team NSCAA All-America honors in his junior and senior seasons, while earning the SAC Scholar-Athlete Award as a sophomore. The midfielder also earned two All-SAC First Team selections while earning All-SAC Tournament honors for the SAC champions in 1990 and 1991.
A 1991 First Team All-Region selection, Wakeman ranks 2nd in program history in career assists. His 14 assists in 1990 are the second-most in a single season in program history. Wakeman was a three-time SAC regular season champion in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and 1988 Conference Carolinas regular season champion. He was also a two-time NAIA District 26 champion and two-time NAIA National Tournament participant.
Mick Wakeman Accolades:
- Men's Soccer, 1988-91
- Four-time All-American
- 1991 NSCAA and NAIA First Team All-American
- 1990 NSCAA First Team All-American and NAIA Third Team All-American
- 1991 First Team All-Region selection
- 1989 SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Two-time All-SAC First Team selection (1990, 1991)
- Two-time SAC All-Tournament Team (1990, 1991)
- Ranks 2nd in program history in career assists (32)
- 14 assists in 1990 are the second-most in a single season in program history
- Three-time SAC regular season champion (1989, 1990, 1991) and 1988 Conference Carolinas regular season champion
- 1990 SAC Tournament champion
- Two-time NAIA District 26 champion (1990, 1991)
- Two-time NAIA National Tournament participant (1990, 1991)
- 1990 team holds the school record with 21 wins in a single season, followed closely by the 1991 team with 20 wins - the second-highest total in school history
